I’m going to try to do my first ever market to sell my crochet goods. It’ll be a Halloween Festival in a small town. Does anyone have any suggestions for good things to make that people will want to buy?

  • CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    11 days ago

    My wife does this. I sent her the link and asked her. She says if you have access to glow-in-the-dark yarn, make ghosts. It’s a simple — I can’t crochet to save my life and I’m not trying to learn, but you probably know how to do it. Spiral out to desired width and then maintain the rows (I’d call them rings though?) until you get to the bottom, then however you do the flanges (whatever they’re called). It’s probably skills you already have. Then sew on eyes and a mouth. Frowning faces sell better than happy ones for some reason.

    She also suggests poison apples, but she had to buy that pattern. A lot of people call them pumpkins but they’re called poison apples. They look like apples (or pumpkins, IDK) but they have a “slimy” cover, which is really just another layer of yarn, I think.

    My wife doesn’t do clothes or blankets — they take too long. She made some headbands. They never move. She’s made hair clips. Those don’t move either. People buy decorations they can put on their desk. Warm clothing is cheaper at thrift stores than you’re probably willing to take.

    Also — and this comes from me, not her — I once saw a crochet market stall where the price tags, if you flipped them over, told you how long they took to make. I think people look at crocheted gifts and think they’re too expensive, they want it for the cost of the yarn or the cost of some mass-produced made-in-China plushie they found on Amazon. They don’t understand the time cost. So if you know how long you spent on something and you price your stuff with respect to that, noting the time can help too, especially with so many people arguing for higher wages and whatnot. I’d go to a market and see what other crochet crafters are charging, and be real honest with yourself about what your craft is worth. If it’s decent, even if you’re starting out, you deserve to charge the same. Or maybe more. But some people are really good and charge accordingly, too.

    • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      11 days ago

      Thank you so much! This is very helpful. I don’t have access to glow in the dark yarn, but I do have white yarn, so I’ll definitely make some ghosts. I don’t have the funds to buy a pattern right now, but I’ve seen the poison apple and it’s great. Tell your wife I appreciate the advice from both of you

  • Ephera@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    12 days ago

    Warm clothing, like scarves and beanies, will probably be in demand before winter…

    • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      12 days ago

      second this.

      My favorite winter hat was crochet by someone selling in my area. It’s the color of fall leaves, slinky, and warm. $45, but lined with wool. Worth every penny.

    • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      12 days ago

      I’ll try to make a couple hats! I typically make amigurumi type things. Lil animals and stuff, but I’ve made a cat ear beanie before

      • Ephera@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        12 days ago

        Well, my first thought was that a little knitted pumpkin would be cute. I just don’t know, if folks would want to buy that on Halloween when Spooktober is already over. 😅

      • LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        11 days ago

        Amigurumi kaiju and other folklore monsters might be a big hit, there’s a woman who crochets and sells dragons and stuff at one of the annual markets we do and she seems to do pretty well by it.

        • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 days ago

          That does sound cool, but I’m not sure it’s the best option for small southern town market. I’ll try it if I go somewhere that’s not going to be mostly parents and trick or treating kids

  • sem@piefed.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    10 days ago

    I don’t usually buy things at the market because they’re too expensive :(

    So maybe try to have something cheap and cheerful also for sale? Like a sticker for $1 , or a little postcard?

    • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      10 days ago

      I don’t have any way to make anything like that, unfortunately :c I get it, though. I also never have enough to buy anything

  • Savarosa@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    10 days ago

    You could do the shape shifting cupholder?
    The snake/turtle curles up and screams when you put the mug on it.
    Probably some scary video game pop colture things? Pacman ghosts - an empty heart container, a pink faery?

      • Savarosa@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        9 days ago

        I wanted to put out my Halloween decorations, and found more potential crochet ideas for you: spiders, pumpkins - black cats and ghosts. :)

        • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          9 days ago

          I’m definitely making black cats and ghosts. I want to get orange for pumpkins and i can for sure look into making some spiders!

  • Creativity@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    11 days ago

    You could make keychains out of some tiny amigurumi.

    It might not work for a halloween festival, but someone once suggested to see if there are any viral crochet trends on other social media sites that teens/kids are into.

  • Krudler@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 days ago

    I met a person on Facebook who was selling homemade hats. They were ugly as sin but this person clearly had the skill.

    I commissioned them to make some rainbow toques which I sold as “gay ok” torques. I made a fucking fortune selling them.

    I even told the guy like dude… Just make gay hats and take all the profit for yourself, you don’t need me… He didn’t want any part of it he just wanted to crochet.

      • Krudler@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        10 days ago

        Well how about anti-gay toques?

        (You must know I am kidding. I am also sorry you live there with those people.)

        • sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zoneOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          9 days ago

          “Pray the Gay Away” beanies xD

          (But yeah. I still wear my rainbow shorts and stuff, but i did grow my hair out and start presenting more obviously femme with the current political climate. My partner and I are lucky to be cishet passing)

          • Krudler@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            9 days ago

            “your genitals are of grave concern to me” ?

            E: oooh accidental pun - you did ask for Halloween theme! Get it “grave”